Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr. MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Notre Dame names redshirt freshman its starting QB for 2025 season

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated Aug 19, 2025 1:14 PM ET

Just weeks ahead of their Aug. 31 season opener at No. 10 Miami, h ead coach Marcus Freeman and the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish have named a starting quarterback for the 2025 season.

CJ Carr, a former 4-star recruit from Saline, Mich., and the grandson of former University of Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr, beat out redshirt sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey for the job.

Our starting QB#GoIrish☘️ pic.twitter.com/vFi9pxeMeg
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) August 19, 2025

At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, Carr saw action in one game last season, though he didn't accumulate any statistics. 247Sports ranked him as the No. 6 quarterback in the 2024 class, after he committed to Notre Dame over the Wolverines.

As a senior at Saline High School in 2023, he completed 199 of 292 passes for 2,754 yards and 24 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He also rushed for nine touchdowns, though at the collegiate level, he's viewed as much more of a pro-style "pocket quarterback," especially when compared to Minchey.

Carr will have the daunting task of replacing Riley Leonard, who led the Fighting Irish to the College Football Playoff national title game last season before becoming a sixth-round draft pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2025.

The 20-year-old Carr has an incredibly talented team surrounding him, highlighted by running back Jeremiyah Love, who rushed for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns last season with Notre Dame.

Andrew Kulha

Andrew Kulha is probably the only sports writer you know who also doubles as a mortician. Spooky! @KulhaSports

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